As trustee



c. E. E. VAN ALLEN SAFETY DEVICE Jan. 5, 1932.

2 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed Aug. 11, 1930 [nuenlor (737% 75 Z11 fi'/wz 9 By Allomey C. E. E. VAN ALLEN SAFETY DEVICE Jan. 5, 1932. Re.18,315

Original Filed Aug. 11, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvenlor lam; Z K??? 14 171 Allomey Reissued Jan. 5, 1932 Unitas srATJEs "PATENT. OFFICE CLARK E.E. VAN ALLEN, or FORT PAYNE, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR To 0. r. Annnnsoim'o FORTPAYNE, ALABAMA, As TRUSTEE I 1 SAFETY DEVICE Original No. 1,821,334,dated September 1, 1931,5eria1 N0. 474,473, filed August 11, 1930.Application for reissue filed. November 6, 1931. Serial No.w573,488.

This invention relates to. a safety device for vehicles and the primaryobject of the invention is to prevent a blown out tire from pullin a caroff of its straight course, the same being accomplished by utilizing thebrake on the opposite side of the car as a counterbalance through themedium of mechanism comprehended by the present in vention.

As is well known, the drag or friction of a flat tire, and drop of theside of the car on the side Where the flat tire is" pulls the car orautomobile toward that side. If the modern car, equipped with four wheelbrakes has blown-out tire on the right front wheel, the automobileimmediately starts to swing toward the right, and the application of thebrakes will tend to throw the automobile harder toward this side,because very little braking power is necessary on the right front wheelwhen the tire is flat, which results in the tendency of the brake powerto lock the flat wheel before any of the other three wheels havereceived proper braking action.

-With the above and numerous other objects in view, the inventionconsistsin the combination, arrangement and details of constructionhereinafter set forth and shown in the accompanying drawings andclaimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a detail sectional view, taken through abrake and a portion of atire rim and wheel, showing the application ofthe invention therewith.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view, taken substantially on the line 22of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view, taken substantially on the line33.of Figure 1.

With reference more in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that thereference char acter 5 designates the hub of a conventional type ofautomobile wheel. The rim of the wheel is designated by the referencecharac ter 6. The wheel shown fragmentarily and in section represents astandard wire, wheel. The brake drum with which the wheel is equipped isdesignated by the reference character 7 and is provided with the usualcover plate 8. The bearing housing of the wheel is designated by thereference character 9.

In carrying out the present invention, the

brake cam 10 instead of being attachedsolidly to'the brake arm is, inthe present instance, slidably arranged in the bore 11 of the brakeoperating shaft 12. The cam 10 is suitably keyed to the shaft 12 forrotation with the shaft for permitting the cam 10 to move longitudinallyrelatively to the shaft 12. The shaft 12 is rotatably mounted in'asuitable bearing 13 provided therefor on the cover plate 8, in the usualmanner.

On its outer end, the shaft 12 is equipped with a suitable crank arm 14,adapted to engage with the control mechanism of the brake, the controlmechanism' not shown. Arranged inthe bore 11 is a suitable spring fornormally urging the cam 10 outwardly of the bore, the distance ofthree-fourths of an inch to an inch, and still maintain direct action ofthe brake arm. The spring 15 engaging the cam 10 will urge the sameoutwardly so that the cam rider 16 will be maintained at all times incontact with a ring 17, to hold the cam at its proper position so thatthe cam member 10 will suitably engage the inner ends of theconventional type of feet 18, which are operatively connected to thebrake shoes 19 that are adapted to be moved into and out of frictionalengagement with the periphery of the brake dru 7, as is well known inthe art.

Normally disposed about the inner end of the bearing housing 9 is arelatively smaller ring 20, which is normally urged toward the ring 17,under the expansive action of a coil spring 21, convoluted about thebearing housing 9. Rings 17 and 20 are operatively connected. togetherthrough the medium of a plurality of series of links 22. The links 22are pivotally connected to the rings 17 and 20 as at 24 and 25respectively. One link of each of the series of links 22 has a linkconnection 26 with lug 27 provided on the inner end of the brake drum 7A yoke 28 is pivotally mounted interiorly of the brake drum 7 'as at 29.The yoke straddles the inner end of the bearing housing 9 and the freeends of the yoke are adapted to bear against ring 20, for normally urging the ring to the right of Figure 1, to compress spring 21. The shankof the yoke is pivotally connected, as at to a lever 31, adjacent theoffset end 32 of the lever. The offset end of the lever is pivoted tothe wall of 5 the brake drum 7 as at 33. The lever 31 is operable in asuitable slot 34 provided therefor in the wall ofthe brake drum 7; andsaid lever extends into the interior of the hub 5.

1 The outer end of the rod 36 is slidable ina radial casing or socket 37mounted on the inner peripheral face of the wheel rim 6. At

the last referred to end thereof the rod 36 normally projects outwardlyof the casing 37,

between the walls of the rim 6 and at saidend' normally resting on theinner face of the rim periphery. Thus it will be seen that the head 38normallycontacts with the. tire on the rim 6, and acting against thepressure of the tire onthe head or flange 38 is a coil s ring 39. Thecoil spring 39 is arranged in the casing or socket 37, and bears againstthe head or disc 38 for normally ur ing saidrhe ad 38 away from theadjacent en of the casing 37 and upwardly between the Walls of the tirerim as is apparent. In Figure 1, the parts are in a normal position,that is, the brake is in an off position or non-braking position and thehead is contactingthe free end of the lever 31 un der action ofthepressure exertedon the disklike head or'flange 38, by a tire or thelike (not shown) arranged-on therim 6.

Now, should the aforementionedtire be blown out or for any other reason,pressure on the head or flange 38, acting oppositely to the spring 39,be released, it will be seen that the rod '36 under action of the spring39 will be moved'radially with respect to the wheel. thus releasingpressure. on the lever 31. This release of pressure on the lever 31 willobviously release pressure of the yoke against the ring 20 with theresult that the spring 21 in a normally com ressed condition, willexpand, thus causing t e ring 20 to move toward the left in Figure 1.

Throughthe medium of the links 22 connecting the rings 17 and 20, thering 17 will move in an opposite direction with respect to the ring 20,or to the right in Figure 1, thus permitting the cam 10 to move inwardlyor to the right in Figure 1, under the action of the spring 15, wherebythe cam member 10' is moved out of engagement with the links or feet 18,thus rendering the brake mechanism inefi'ective, that is, the brakemechanism of this particular wheel willnot actin conjunc i "that when ablow-out occurs in a particular 7 tire whereby the mechanismis operatedin brake pedal for operating the brakes of the I several wheels, haveatendency-to pull the vehicle toward, that side of the roadcorresponding to the side of the vehicle on whic the blown-out tire ismounted.

i However; through the medium of this mechanism, the; brake of thewheel, whose tire has been blown out will be immediately renderedinoperable for braking purposes, so that only a braking action isapplied to each of the remaining'wheels of the automobile, thus aidingthe driver to maintain the vehicle upon its true course on the road,with a minimum of efio'rt.

' For example,if the blow-out occurs on the right front wheel,immediatelythe blowout mechanism of the wheel isreleased and the brakeon that wheel is useless for braking purposes, being rendered so theoperation of the blow-out mechanism. Immediatelv upon application of thefoot pedal, the

'left brake will then act and afford a braking action for the leftwheel, and this braking action applied to the left front wheel willreact against the force of the flat tire on the right front wheel with"the result that the driver of the vehicle may maintain the vehicle underfull control and in its true course of travel; I

Pins 10 are provided for engagement with the brake shoes 19 to limitorprevent the said shoes moving inwardy toward one another when cam 10 ismoved out of engagement with the links or feet 18 upon movement of thering 17 toward the right in Figure 1. Otherwise, the shoes 19 would moveinwardly toward one another to such an extent as would not permit cam 10being forced into itsnormal link or foot engaging position when ring 17is forced to its normal position upon the repairing of the blown outtire.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferred embodimentof my in- VBIICIOIII, it is to be understood that the same issusceptible to changes fully comprehended by the'spirit of the inventionas herein described andthe scope of the appended claims. i

that is claimed as new 1s: 1. A vehicle wheel brake comprising incombinationa drum, radially movable brake shoesfor movement into and outof engagenient with the'drum, cam means for control- 12 ling themovement of the brake shoes, and means operable .upona decrease inpressure in the tire of the vehicle wheel for moving said cam meansoutof brake effecting engagement with said shoes, whereby to render the.130

brake ineffective with respect to the wheel upon application of thebrake lever.

2. In combination, a vehicle wheel brake mechanism comprising abrakeshoe controlling cam normally operatively engaged with the brakeshoes, and means, normally acting against the pressure of the pneumatictire of the vehicle wheel, for urging said cam out of operativeconnection with said brake shoes upon releasing of pressure in thepneumatic tire.

3. A wheel brake mechanism comprising in combination, a brake drum,radially movable brake shoes arranged in said drum, a rotatably mountedbrake control shaft, a cam member movable axially and relatively to saidshaf yieldable means for normally urging said cam member out ofoperative engagement with said brake shoes, a rod supported on the rimof the vehicle wheel for movement radially to the wheel of the vehicle,said rod at one end adapted to engage the pneumatic tire of the vehiclewheel, and means controlled by said rod and normally acting oppositelyto said yieldable means for retaining said cam member in operativeengagement with said brake shoes.

4:- A vehicle wheel brake comprising in combination, a brake drum, radialy movable brake shoes arranged in said bralre drum, a roclrably mountedbrake shaft, a cam member operatively connected to said shaft andmovable axially relative to said shaft, said cam member normallyoperatively connected with said brake shoes, means for actuating saidshoes into braking engagement with the brake drum upon rotation of saidshaft, yieldable means normally urging the cam in one direction relativeto said shaft, a radially disposed casing mounted on the wheel rim, apressure responsive rod slidable through said casing, spring meansarranged in said casing and engaging said rod for normally urging oneend of the rod into contact with the pneumatic tire on the wheel rim, aring arranged in said brake drum, normally engaging the free end of saidcam, expansible means in said brake drum operalively connected ith saidring, said expansible means acting oppositely to the said yieldablemeans engaging said cam, means normally maintaining said expansiblemeans compressed, said last mentioned means including means ac"- atableupon the movement of said pressure re-- sponsive rod in one directionunder action of the aforementioned spring engaging said rod, wherebysaid expansible means is released to move cam in said opposite directionand out of operative engagement with said brake shoes.

5. A vehicle wheel brake comprising in combination, a brake drum,radially movable brake shoes arranged said brake drum, a rockablymounted brake shaft, a cam member operatively connected to said shaftand able means normall ur in the cam in one h 23 direction relative tosaid shaft, a radially disposed casing mounted on the wheel run, apressure responsive rod shdable through said casing, spring meansarranged in said 1-) casing and engaging said rod for normally urgingone end of the rod into contact with the pneumatic tire on the wheelrim, a ring arranged in brake drum, normally engaging the free end ofsaid cam, expansible means in said brake drum operatively connected withsaid ring, said expansible means acting oppositely to the said yieldablemeans enga ing said cam, means normally maintaining said expansiblemeans compressed, said last mentioned means including means actuatable"upon the movement of said pressure responsive rod in one directionunder action of the aforementioned spring engaging said rod, wherebysaid expan ible means is released to move said cam in said oppositedirection and out of operative engagement with said brake shoes, and theaforementioned means for compressing said expansiole member comprising asecond ring, a pivotally mounted yoke engaging said second ring normallyurging the latter in one direction for compressing said eXpansiblemember, and means operatively connecting both of said rings together andto one wall. of said brake drum.

6. A vehicle wheel brake comprising in combination, a drum, brake shoesfor moving into and out of braking engagement with said drum, remotecontrolled cam means normally operatively connected with said shoes,normally compressed expansible means operably'engaging said cam, andmeans operable upon a decrease of air pressure in the, pneumatic tire ofthe vehicle wheel for re leasing said expansible means for moving saidcam out of operative engagement with said shoes.

7. A vehicle wheel brake comprising in combination, a drum, brake shoesfor moving into and out of braking engagement with said drum, remotecontrolled cam means normally operatively connected with said shoes,normally compressed expansible means op-.

erably engaging said cam, and means leperable upon a decrease ofpressure in the pneumatic tire of the vehicle wheel for releasing saidexpansible means for moving said cam out of operative engagement with,

said shoes, said last mentioned means including a member normallyengaging said cam, a spring concentrically arranged in the drum of saidbrake, means for normally retaining said spring in a retracted position,said last,

mentioned means including means opera 13 portion in one direction formoving said cam means out of operat1ve engagement with the 7 tivelyconnected to said member for normally urging said member in onedirection, upon expansion of said spring. 7 a r 8. In combination, avehicle wheel brake mechanism including shiftable braking members,yieldable means for shifting said members, and means acting oppositelyto said yieldable means for rendering said means inefiective forshifting said braking members upon a decrease of pressure in the tire ofthe wheel controlled by said brake.

- 9. A vehicle Wheel brake including in combination, a shiftable memberfor movin the braking elements of the brake into an out of brakingposition, and oppositely acting means for normally retaining saidshiftable member in operative position with respect to the brakingelements, and operable upon a decrease in pressure in the tire of thevehicle wheel, for releasing said shift-able member and shifting thesame out of operativeengagement with the braking elements.

10. A vehicle wheel brake including in combination, a brake drum, brakeshoes cooperable with said drum, cam means for shifting said shoes intoand out of engagement with said drum, oppositely acting means fornormally retaining said cam means in operative engagement With saidshoes and including a yieldable member normally urging said ator tointercept automatically any application of the brake mechanism thatwould tendto' deflect the automobile toward the side bearing thedeflated tire.

14. A safety device for use on automobiles having pneumatic tires on itsfront wheels and a brake mechanism normally effective in respect ofsaid'wheels, comprising a spring pressed plunger on each of said wheelsnormally restrained by the air pressure in its respective pneumatictire, and means responsive to the movement of a plunger when rel-easedfrom the restraint of said air pressure which will automaticallyintercept control by the brake mechanism of the steering wheel bearingthe deflated tire.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CLARK E. E. VAN ALLEN.

cam means out of engagement with the brake shoes, normally contractedmeans for normally retaining said cam means inoperative engagement withthe shoes opposite to said yieldable member, and means controlled by thepressure of the air in the pneumatic tire of the wheel for normallyretaining said contracted means in a contracted condition.

gagement with the drum of the brake, said.

cam means having an axial portion movable axially with respect to thedrum, and pressure responsive means for shifting said axial f brakingmembers of the brake, whereby to prevent a movement of the brakingmembers into engagement with thebrake drum, upon the application of thebrake lever.

12. A safety device for automobiles, com prising in combination with awheel having a pneumatic tire and a brake mechanism therefor, of meansautomatically operable upon a decrease in pressure in the pneumatic tireto. render the brake mechanism ineffective with respect to said wheel. 7v

13. A safety device for use on automobiles having Wheels equipped withpneumatic tires and with brake mechanism normally effective on saidwheels, comprising an actuator movable responsive to the deflation ofthe'pneumatic tire on a wheel, and mechanism operable responsive to themovement of said actu-

